She just may be as relentlessly upbeat and sweet as the Kimmy Schmidt character that has rocketed her to fame. Most actors with her recent breakaway success would have little difficulty adapting to the role of diva. But not Ellie Kemper.

How is Kemper spending this summer? No, not on a shopping spree in Paris or cruising the South Pacific. Rather, she is waking up in the middle of the night to get prepared to take on her summer job as co-host on NBC’s Today show.

What would possess Kemper to take this gig before shooting starts in August on the second season of Netflix’s smash hit comedy Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt?

“I happen to love talk shows, and I might want to work on a talk show in the future,” she says in a phone interview. “I’ve been learning as I’ve been going along, and it’s been such great fun.”

It’s 11:30 in the morning. Kemper has had quite the eventful day so far: she danced with Boy George and busted a few of Channing Tatum’s moves on the Today set.

“Dancing with Boy George — I’m living the dream,” she cheerfully coos. “Basically, I am a morning person, although it is at odds with what my schedule often calls for. I do have to admit that I am exhausted. Those people on the show get up so early — earlier than me. But I do have to say they have really good coffee, which really helps me.”

In truth, it’s more than the caffeine. Kemper, despite her lack of anchoring experience, is a natural. She is clearly comfortable in front of any camera, and projects the same affability and charm as does Kimmy.

“Oh, thanks so much,” she responds. “That’s such a huge compliment.” Unlike many in her line of work, Kemper’s tone overflows with sincerity.

“I keep thinking that because it’s their show, I have to be simple,” she says, referring to Matt Lauer et al.

Kemper will also be keeping it simple when she hits Montreal to host a Just for Laughs gala on July 24 — and with its 9:45 p.m. start time, it will be keeping her up later than usual.

Kemper, despite the ups and downs of her métier, admits to being a cup-half-full kind of person. On certain levels, she has no difficulty relating to Kimmy Schmidt’s optimism — though the latter’s optimism would seem to stem from the relief of bolting from a hostage-like situation in a bunker, which had been imposed on her by a loony cult leader.

“It’s so rare, unfortunately, to see someone so positive about life like Kimmy,” Kemper says. “She gets frustrated about injustice as most would, but Kimmy might be an exceptional case.

“She was in such a horrific situation for 15 years, and to come out of it with such amazing optimism is remarkable. That’s unique. I think she was born with that kind of tenacity. It had the opposite effect of despair on her. She has seen the worst of humanity, yet she chooses to believe the best of it. She’s not bitter.”

Kemper could have been bitter when she was turned down for a job as a trouper on Saturday Night Live years earlier. A graduate of Princeton University, she had paid dues with New York’s renowned Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre and was praised for her solo show Feeling Sad/Mad With Ellie Kemper.

But she didn’t take losing the SNL job to heart. “With Saturday Night Live, they don’t call you to tell you that you didn’t get the part. They just don’t call you. So I can’t officially say I didn’t get it,” she jokes.

“I have to say, though, that I really didn’t have all that it takes to be on that show. I can’t do celebrity impressions to save my life. But it was really such a thrill just to audition. Just going through that alone felt like such an accomplishment in its own right. So in a good way, it wasn’t devastating.”

That’s just so Kimmy Schmidt of her. Kemper could have even pinned blame on her acting teacher at the time, Jon Hamm — yes, the Mad Men stud.

“Yes, I do blame him,” she cracks. “I always go vent to him.”

But good things happen to good people — particularly those without ’tude.

Shortly after her SNL rejection, Kemper landed a job as chirpy receptionist Erin Hannon on The Office, which took her through 102 episodes. Later she caught the eye of director Paul Feig, who cast her as the somewhat naive wife in his blockbuster comedy Bridesmaids.

And when former SNL stalwart Tina Fey had the concept for Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, she had Kemper in her sights as the lead character.

“It’s just a thrill to be near a comedy genius like Tina, let alone to be working with her,” Kemper marvels.

And who did Fey have in mind to play the loony cult leader? Why, Kemper’s former acting teacher, Hamm.

“That was just so surreal,” Kemper recalls. “In the moment when (Hamm’s character) is threatening me about leaving the bunker, I genuinely felt so scared, because he was my teacher and he is an authority figure. I was just freaking out. It was the greatest coincidence that he would come on that show and do the role of the cult-leader reverend. It was like everything had come full circle.”

“I am not a pure standup, so I’ll be closer to doing sketches and, dare I say, some music may be involved. Maybe even some dancing.”

But no word whether she can bring back Boy George for a high-stepping encore.

“That would be rich,” Kemper says. “I didn’t know what to expect from Boy George, but he was such a delight and he has the most gorgeous eyes. I am so on the Boy George train.”

AT A GLANCE

Ellie Kemper’s Unbreakable, All-Star Comedy Show takes place July 24 at 9:45 p.m. at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier of Place des Arts. Tickets cost $29.73 to $64.27. For information and reservations, call 514-845-2322 or visit hahaha.com.

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